The Modern Therapist's Survival Guide with Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy

Avsnitt

• Supporting Conversion Therapy Survivors After Chiles v. Salazar: SOGIECE, Clinical Care, and Community Response – An Interview with Samuel Nieves 29.06.2026 47min

  Supporting Conversion Therapy Survivors After Chiles v. Salazar: SOGIECE, Clinical Care, and Community Response - An Interview with Samuel Nieves Samuel Nieves of the Conversion Therapy Survivor Network on supporting conversion therapy survivors, recognizing SOGIECE, and clinical care after Chiles v. Salazar. Curt and Katie welcome back Samuel Nieves, a conversion therapy survivor and board member of the Conversion Therapy Survivor Network, for a follow-up to their earlier conversation and to the host-led discussion of the Chiles v. Salazar decision. Rather than re-litigating the legal details, they focus on the clinical and human aftermath for survivors. Sam shares what he saw the day the ruling came down, how to recognize a conversion therapy survivor on your caseload (including memory loss and shifting narratives), why validation has to come before strengths work, and how to lead with curiosity instead of challenge. He explains SOGIECE, sexual orientation and gender identity or expression change efforts, and why naming it can be the validation that lets a survivor finally call their experience what it was. The conversation also sits with why reducing these practices to "speech" misses the harm, what licensing boards and clinicians owe survivors, and how survivors and the advocates who serve them stay in the work through firm boundaries and intentional queer joy. This is a grounded, affirming episode for any clinician working with LGBTQ+ clients. In this episode, we discuss: - How to recognize a conversion therapy survivor on your caseload - Why validation has to come before strengths-based work - How to lead with curiosity instead of challenge with traumatized clients - What SOGIECE is and why naming it can be profoundly validating - Why framing conversion therapy as "speech" misses the real harm - What licensing boards and the profession owe survivors - How survivors and advocates sustain themselves through boundaries and queer joy Timestamps: - 02:00 - Who Sam is and the Conversion Therapy Survivor Network - 03:14 - The day the Chiles v. Salazar decision came down - 06:26 - Validation before strengths with survivors - 09:04 - What well-meaning therapists can miss - 11:10 - The public "permission" and its harm to survivors - 18:40 - Why "it's just speech" misses the harm - 22:10 - SOGIECE, allies, and survivor organizations - 27:45 - What the profession owes survivors - 32:21 - Solution-focused therapy, ACT, and queer joy - 35:01 - How Sam sustains himself in the work Guest Bio: Samuel Nieves (he/they) is a board member of the Conversion Therapy Survivor Network, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit supporting survivors of conversion therapy and SOGIECE worldwide. Trained as a marriage and family therapist, Sam advocates online as "CantPrayMeAway" and helps facilitate the organization's weekly survivor support group. Full show notes and transcript: mtsgpodcast.com Join the Modern Therapist Community Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/mtsgpodcast Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist's Survival Guide Creative Credits Voice Over by DW McCann: https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano: https://groomsymusic.com/
• Should Conversion Therapy Be Protected Speech? What Chiles v. Salazar Means for Conversion Therapy Bans and the Future of the Profession 22.06.2026 41min

  Should Conversion Therapy Be Protected Speech? What Chiles v. Salazar Means for Conversion Therapy Bans and the Future of the Profession In Chiles v. Salazar, the Supreme Court ruled 8 to 1 that a therapist's talk therapy is protected speech, putting state conversion therapy bans at risk. Curt Widhalm, LMFT, and Katie Vernoy, LMFT break down what the March 31, 2026 decision actually says, what it does not say, and what it means for therapists who work with LGBTQ+ clients. The Court did not call conversion therapy safe, effective, or ethical, and it did not make the practice mandatory. It treated talk therapy as speech rather than regulable conduct, and sent Colorado's ban back to the lower courts for stricter First Amendment review. Curt and Katie walk through the strict scrutiny test at the center of the case, the Kagan and Sotomayor concurrence, and Justice Jackson's dissent, then sit with the harder question: what happens to the profession when the state can no longer set a guardrail on harmful practice before harm has occurred. Released during Pride Month, this is a candid, values-forward conversation about protecting LGBTQ+ clients and practicing affirming, anti-conversion-therapy care out loud. In this episode, we discuss: - What the Chiles v. Salazar ruling does, and does not, change about conversion therapy bans - Why the Court treated talk therapy as protected speech instead of medical treatment - How the strict scrutiny test decided the case - Where the concurrence and the dissent point the profession next - Concrete ways to signal affirming, anti-conversion-therapy care in your practice Full show notes and resources: mtsgpodcast.com Join the Modern Therapist Community Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/mtsgpodcast Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist's Survival Guide Creative Credits Voice Over by DW McCann: https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano: https://groomsymusic.com/
• Good Enough, Safe Enough: Affirming LGBTQ+ Clients When You're Not a Specialist 15.06.2026 40min

  Good Enough, Safe Enough: Affirming LGBTQ+ Clients When You're Not a Specialist Affirming LGBTQ+ clients when you are not a specialist: Curt Widhalm, LMFT, and Katie Vernoy, LMFT on being a good enough, safe enough therapist when you cannot refer out. Curt and Katie take on a question therapists often avoid: what do you do when an LGBTQ+ client needs care, you are not a specialist, and referring out is not possible, not safe, or not honest? In this Pride Month episode, they make the case that you can be a good enough, safe enough therapist for LGBTQ+ clients even when affirming care is not your declared specialty. Mental health deserts, narrow insurance panels, long specialist wait lists, and unsafe home environments mean referral is not always available, and sometimes referring out is closer to abandonment than care. Curt and Katie argue that scope of competence is too often used as polite cover for therapist discomfort, and that most clinical work with LGBTQ+ clients is the same work you already do well. Affirming care is the container, not a separate specialty. They also get practical about being a safe enough stopgap therapist: building a just in time consultation kit, doing the cultural humility work, and reckoning with the invisible labor and consultation tax of allyship, including why you should never bill a client to research their own identity. And they name the specific moments when referring an LGBTQ+ client out is still the right and ethical call. This is a useful conversation for generalist therapists, rural and solo clinicians, insurance-based practices, and anyone doing the ongoing work of affirming, culturally humble care. In this episode, we discuss: - Why "refer out" can be avoidance dressed as ethics, and when it is genuinely the right call - How to tell a true scope of competence limit from your own discomfort - What it means to be a good enough, safe enough therapist for LGBTQ+ clients - How to build a just in time kit so an LGBTQ+ client never lands on you cold - Why the invisible labor and consultation tax of allyship is yours to carry, not your client's to fund - The specific signs that mean you should refer out anyway Timestamps: 00:15 - Why a Pride Month episode on being good enough, not a specialist 02:56 - "Just refer out": sound advice or avoidance? 05:05 - Scope of competence versus therapist discomfort 13:08 - The good enough therapist, and when referral becomes abandonment 16:55 - Meeting clients where they are until specialist care opens up 19:03 - Building a just in time kit for your practice 24:44 - The invisible labor and consultation tax of allyship 32:10 - When you should refer out anyway Full show notes and transcript: mtsgpodcast.com Join the Modern Therapist Community Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/mtsgpodcast Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist's Survival Guide Creative Credits Voice Over by DW McCann: https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano: https://groomsymusic.com/
• Allyship Is Awkward: How Therapists Can Keep Showing Up Anyway 08.06.2026 45min

  Allyship Is Awkward: How Therapists Can Keep Showing Up Anyway What if the awkwardness of ally work is not a sign you are doing it wrong, but the actual work? Curt Widhalm, LMFT, and Katie Vernoy, LMFT explore what it looks like to do ally work as a therapist when you hold majority identities the people around you do not share. They move across three zones where this shows up: with clients in the therapy room, with colleagues and consultants in professional spaces, and in broader community and advocacy work. Drawing on their own missteps and on the work of creators like Ashani Mfuko of Anti-Racism School Is In Session and Dr. Raquel Martin of Mind Ya Mental, Curt and Katie make a direct case to white, cis, straight, and other majority-identity therapists: cultural humility is not a credential, fragility shifts the labor onto the people around you, and the strong feelings that come with ally work belong with other allies, not with clients or colleagues of color. This is an episode about staying in the room, decentering yourself, and learning to fail better. In this episode, we discuss: Why ally work is inherently awkward, and why that is not a problem to be solved How fragility, over-apologizing, and gold-star seeking shift the emotional labor onto clients and colleagues of color What repair actually looks like when a cross-cultural rupture happens in session Why being called out by a client can be a sign the relationship is alive enough to repair How to process defensiveness and hurt with other allies instead of with clients or colleagues of color Why cultural humility is not a free pass, and what therapists owe their own continuing education How consultation with diverse colleagues protects clients from being conscripted as your teacher Ally work is ongoing. The goal is not to stop making mistakes. The goal is to keep failing better. Full show notes and resources: mtsgpodcast.com Join the Modern Therapist Community: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/mtsgpodcast Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist's Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann: https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano: https://groomsymusic.com/
• The Seven Stages of Queer Love: Therapy with Queer Couples, Queer Sex, and the Developmental Model - An Interview with Tom Bruett, LMFT 01.06.2026 41min

  The Seven Stages of Queer Love: Therapy with Queer Couples, Queer Sex, and the Developmental Model - An Interview with Tom Bruett, LMFT Tom Bruett, LMFT on the seven stages of queer relationship development, the Developmental Model, queer couples therapy, and queer sex. Curt and Katie talk with Tom Bruett, LMFT, founder of the Queer Relationship Institute, about what therapists most often get wrong when working with queer couples, why queer sex is still treated as an asterisk in most sex therapy training, and how the Developmental Model of Relationship Therapy can be expanded to better reflect queer experience. Trained under Drs. Ellyn Bader and Peter Pearson, Tom adds two stages to the five-stage Developmental Model: Second Queer Adolescence and Agreement. The expanded seven-stage model gives therapists a clearer way to track differentiation, autonomy, and connection in queer relationships that do not fit the standard "relationship escalator." Tom is the author of The Go-To Relationship Guide for Gay Men: From Honeymoon to Lasting Commitment (Jessica Kingsley Publishers). This is a useful conversation for therapists working with queer couples, sex therapists, couples therapists trained in heteronormative models, and queer therapists looking for better tools and community for this work. In this episode, we discuss: - What therapists most often get wrong with queer couples and queer sex - The Seven Stages of Queer Relationship Development, including Tom's two additions - Why a "second queer adolescence" matters clinically - Mutual interdependence versus codependence in gay male relationships - Minority stress, the relationship escalator, and queer identity formation - How the current political moment is showing up in queer couples therapy - Trauma activation, nervous-system regulation, and slowing the work down - Support for queer therapists working through a difficult cultural moment Timestamps: 02:28 - What therapists get wrong with queer couples and queer sex 04:43 - Sex therapy training and the asterisk problem 08:20 - The Seven Stages of Queer Relationship Development 13:00 - Mutual interdependence versus codependence 17:39 - The relationship escalator and minority stress 21:14 - The current political moment in queer couples therapy 25:18 - Trauma, regulation, and slowing down the work 27:08 - Writing The Go-To Relationship Guide for Gay Men 33:21 - Doing the work on the back end, not asking clients to educate you 34:13 - Where to find Tom and the Queer Relationship Institute Guest Bio: Tom Bruett, LMFT is a therapist, trainer, consultant, and author who works extensively with the queer community. He is the founder of the Queer Relationship Institute, which provides therapy for queer folx and training for therapists who work with queer relationships. Tom has trained under Drs. Ellyn Bader and Peter Pearson in the Developmental Model of Relationship Therapy, which he now trains other therapists in. His book The Go-To Relationship Guide for Gay Men: From Honeymoon to Lasting Commitment is published by JKP. Tom has spoken at national conferences including AASECT. Learn more at www.QueerRelationshipInstitute.com. Full show notes and transcript: mtsgpodcast.com Join the Modern Therapist Community Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/mtsgpodcast Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist's Survival Guide Creative Credits Voice Over by DW McCann: https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano: https://groomsymusic.com/
• Modern Therapist's Consumer Guide: Paubox. HIPAA Compliant Email, Secure Communication, and Practice Privacy. An Interview with Hoala Greevy, Founder and CEO of Paubox 28.05.2026 42min

  Modern Therapist's Consumer Guide: Paubox. HIPAA Compliant Email, Secure Communication, and Practice Privacy. An Interview with Hoala Greevy, Founder and CEO of Paubox Curt and Katie talk with Hoala Greevy, Founder and CEO of Paubox, about what HIPAA compliant email actually requires, where standard Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 Business Associate Agreements leave gaps, and why most secure-portal solutions fail at the inbox. Paubox is a HIPAA compliant email security platform built to deliver encrypted messages straight to the recipient's inbox, without portals, plugins, or extra clicks. Hoala explains how Paubox wraps around the email systems therapists already use, why domain ownership and TLS encryption matter, and how inbound threats like display-name spoofing affect small practices. The conversation also covers HITRUST certification, AI scraping, the Paubox Foundations, the Paubox Kahikina Scholarship supporting Native Hawaiian students in STEM, and how to evaluate a HIPAA compliant email vendor on security, reliability, and ease of use. This episode is part of our Modern Therapist's Consumer Guide series. While this interview is a paid partnership, our discussion and opinions are our own. In this episode, we discuss: - Where standard Google and Microsoft BAAs leave HIPAA compliant email gaps - Why most secure-portal solutions never get read on mobile - How TLS encryption and secure email delivery actually work - What domain ownership has to do with HIPAA compliance - How Paubox integrates with Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 - Inbound threats, display-name spoofing, and ExecProtect - HITRUST certification and how to evaluate a HIPAA compliant email vendor Timestamps: - 02:18 – What Paubox does and why it was created - 05:19 – Mission, vision, and the Paubox Foundations - 08:38 – What HIPAA compliant email actually requires - 10:26 – The Google and Microsoft BAA gray area - 14:48 – What the client experience looks like - 21:09 – Inbound email security and display-name spoofing - 24:32 – Data access, HITRUST certification, and trust - 34:05 – Pricing, value, and the referral program - 38:43 – Curt and Katie Chat: Our Review of Paubox Guest Bio: Hoala Greevy is the Founder and CEO of Paubox, a leading provider of HIPAA compliant email solutions for healthcare organizations. Born and raised in Honolulu, he founded Paubox after a meeting with the CEO of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Hawai'i revealed a critical need for secure healthcare communication. Greevy supports Native Hawaiian students entering STEM and technology careers through the Paubox Kahikina Scholarship. Learn more at paubox.com. Special Offer for Modern Therapist Listeners: Get $250 off an annual Paubox plan. Visit paubox.com and use promo code MODERN. Full show notes and transcript: mtsgpodcast.com Join the Modern Therapist Community Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/mtsgpodcast Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist's Survival Guide Creative Credits Voice Over by DW McCann: https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano: https://groomsymusic.com/
• Before You Refer to the Hospital: De-Escalation, Safety Planning, and Wraparound Care for Teens in Crisis 25.05.2026 1h 13min

  Before You Refer to the Hospital: De-Escalation, Safety Planning, and Wraparound Care for Teens in Crisis When a suicidal teen is in crisis, is the hospital really the safest call? What outpatient therapists need to know. Curt Widhalm, LMFT, leads this episode from his work running a comprehensive DBT private practice in Los Angeles that specializes in higher-acuity adolescent cases, including teens with serious suicidality, self-harm, and emotional dysregulation. These are exactly the clients most often routed toward psychiatric hospitalization or platform-based care, and Curt argues the default-to-hospital reflex frequently makes things worse, not better. Drawing on recent research and his clinical experience, Curt walks through the iatrogenic harms of adolescent psychiatric inpatient care, why post-discharge is the highest-risk window for completed suicide, and how clinician anxiety can drive premature 5150 holds and crisis referrals. Katie Vernoy, LMFT, joins with years of LPS-designated assessment experience from community mental health, naming what really happens when a teen gets sent in, including the relational rupture that often starts the moment a crisis evaluation is requested. Together they show outpatient therapists, including solo practitioners, how to build the clinical infrastructure that makes hospital diversion a real option: standardized risk assessment, collaborative safety planning that starts at intake, verbal de-escalation, family-integrated care, and wraparound treatment teams that include both formal providers and informal natural supports. This is a continuing education podcourse. Therapists can earn 1 CE credit through the Modern Therapist Learning Community at moderntherapistcommunity.com. What you'll take away: - How to recognize when a teen client really needs inpatient care, and when escalation will cause more harm than help - How to use standardized risk assessment tools (C-SSRS, LRAMP) without losing the therapeutic relationship - How to build a safety plan that actually works, and what to leave out (hint: no-suicide contracts) - What to teach parents about verbal de-escalation and environmental modifications at home - How to construct a mini Intensive Outpatient Program inside a solo or small-group practice - Who belongs on a wraparound treatment team, and how to find informal supports that families often forget to mention - How systemic barriers and health disparities shape access and outcomes for Black, Hispanic, and lower-SES adolescents Timestamps: 00:15 - CE intro and how to earn 1 CE credit 05:17 - Why outpatient therapists need real de-escalation protocols 11:23 - What actually happens during a crisis evaluation, with Katie's LPS-designated insights 18:46 - Iatrogenic harm and post-discharge suicide risk in adolescents 26:27 - Distant admissions, capped beds, and reentry into school and community 30:43 - Building safety plans from the first session, not the first crisis 34:32 - What belongs in a comprehensive adolescent safety plan 41:05 - When a teen says "I want to die," and why language matters 47:27 - Family-integrated care in solo private practice 48:56 - Building a mini IOP without the institutional overhead 55:29 - Wraparound teams and the role of informal natural supports 59:51 - ROIs, HIPAA-compliant communication, and minor consent 1:01:00 - Health disparities and access for marginalized adolescents Earn 1 CE credit: Therapists can earn 1 CE credit for this episode through the Modern Therapist Learning Community. Register, purchase the course, pass the post-test, and complete the evaluation to receive your certificate. Therapy Reimagined is approved by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT CEPA #132270). Please check with your licensing board to confirm eligibility. Full show notes, references, and transcript: mtsgpodcast.com CE enrollment: moderntherapistcommunity.com Join the Modern Therapist Community: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/mtsgpodcast Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist's Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann: https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano: https://groomsymusic.com/
• Inside the Troubled Teen Industry: Wilderness Therapy, Residential Treatment, and the Harm Done to Kids – An Interview with Chelsea Maldonado and Dr. Will Dobud 18.05.2026 49min

  Inside the Troubled Teen Industry: Wilderness Therapy, Residential Treatment, and the Harm Done to Kids – An Interview with Chelsea Maldonado and Dr. Will Dobud Dr. Will Dobud and survivor advocate Chelsea Maldonado on wilderness therapy, residential treatment, institutional abuse, and what therapists need to know to support troubled teen industry survivors.  Curt and Katie talk with Dr. Will Dobud and Chelsea Maldonado about what actually happens inside the troubled teen industry, why the marketing rarely matches the reality, and how wilderness therapy programs and residential treatment facilities continue to operate despite decades of survivor testimony, documented abuse, and youth deaths.  The conversation covers why so many adopted youth and foster youth end up in these facilities, how restraints, isolation, and medical neglect produce lasting trauma, and why power dynamics and institutional structure undermine real therapeutic work. Will and Chelsea also discuss the silence of professional associations after youth deaths, the recent Atlantis Leadership Academy case in Jamaica, and what therapists working with troubled teen industry survivors can do to create safer therapeutic relationships.  In this episode, we discuss:  What therapists get wrong about wilderness therapy and residential treatment Why "round the clock therapy" marketing rarely matches the reality inside facilities How restraints, isolation, and medical neglect cause lasting harm Why adopted youth and foster youth are disproportionately placed in these programs The role of power dynamics and institutional structure in the troubled teen industry Why survivors are highly traumatized and highly therapy resistant How therapists can work more safely and effectively with survivors The silence of professional associations after youth deaths in licensed, accredited facilities  Timestamps:  07:34 – What actually happens inside troubled teen industry facilities 13:04 – Katie reflects on her own residential treatment experience 16:28 – Common harms: restraints, medical neglect, sexual abuse 19:38 – Power, conversion-style programming, and adopted youth 24:31 – Why these facilities still exist 28:07 – Attachment, restraints, and institutional contradictions 33:00 – What actually helps youth in crisis 38:14 – The Atlantis Leadership Academy case and survivor-led advocacy  Guests: Dr. Will Dobud, Senior Lecturer in Social Work at Charles Sturt University and former wilderness therapy field guide whose research focuses on improving outcomes for teenagers and exposing harm in the troubled teen industry (willdobud.com). Chelsea Maldonado, troubled teen industry survivor, lead researcher for the Trapped in Treatment podcast, and consultant to Paris Hilton's nonprofit 11:11 Media Impact (1111mediaimpact.com).  Full show notes and transcript: mtsgpodcast.com  Join the Modern Therapist Community  Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/mtsgpodcast Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/therapyreimagined  Modern Therapist's Survival Guide Creative Credits  Voice Over by DW McCann: https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano: https://groomsymusic.com/
• Why Therapists Stop Working with Kids and What It Takes to Stay: Sustainability, Boundaries, and Pivots for the Long Haul 11.05.2026 42min

  Why Therapists Stop Working with Kids and What It Takes to Stay: Sustainability, Boundaries, and Pivots for the Long Haul Curt Widhalm, LMFT, and Katie Vernoy, LMFT push back on the field's quiet stereotype that working with kids is the "starter home" of private practice, the place clinicians put in time before graduating to a cardigan and a wing-back chair. Working with kids and teens is not entry-level work. It is some of the most clinically and physically demanding work in the profession, and it has a sustainability problem that rarely gets named honestly. Curt and Katie examine why so many therapists who work with kids and teens hit a wall around the five-year mark, and why that wall is rarely about clinical depth. They unpack the sensory toll, the parent communication load, the school and provider coordination, the cost of running a play therapy room, and the way a child caseload can quietly distort a clinician's sense of what is developmentally typical. They also talk about how to build a long-haul career working with kids, teens, and families without becoming, in Curt's words, "a cynical, glitter-covered shell of a human being." This is a conversation for therapists in private practice, supervisors of clinicians who work with minors, and anyone weighing whether to keep working with kids, scale back, or pivot. In this episode, we discuss: Why working with kids is not a lesser clinical specialty Why the work is hard to sustain, and why "burnout" alone does not fully explain it How shifting from kid sessions to family work and parent work extends the clinical impact The sensory, physical, and administrative load of working with kids Why parents contact child therapists more than adult clients contact their own therapists The financial and logistical reality of running a play therapy room How a clinical caseload can distort a therapist's sense of typical development When a pivot to adult, family, or parent work is healthy, and when it is avoidance Timestamps: 00:15 — The "starter home" stereotype, and the five-year wall 06:03 — The 167-hour problem and why kid work is family work 10:08 — The sensory and physical toll 12:58 — Caseload diversification and structuring the day 19:41 — The unpaid hours: parents, schools, and the village 23:43 — The play therapy industrial complex 27:59 — Keeping up with kids' culture without losing yourself 30:19 — How a clinical caseload distorts the sense of typical development 33:09 — Expectations, moral injury, and what "fix my kid" really costs 35:01 — When a pivot is survival, and when it is avoidance Full show notes and resources: mtsgpodcast.com Join the Modern Therapist Community Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/mtsgpodcast Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist's Survival Guide Creative Credits Voice Over by DW McCann — https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano — https://groomsymusic.com/
• When Good Moms Feel Bad: Supporting Mothers in Therapy with IFS and the Mom Parts Method – An Interview with Jessica Tomich Sorci, LMFT 07.05.2026 44min

  When Good Moms Feel Bad: Supporting Mothers in Therapy with IFS and the Mom Parts Method – An Interview with Jessica Tomich Sorci, LMFT Jessica Tomich Sorci, LMFT, creator of the Mom Parts Method, on IFS, maternal mental health, mom shame, and why "bad mom" parts are protectors, not problems. Curt and Katie talk with Jessica Tomich Sorci, LMFT about what therapists often miss when working with mothers, and how Internal Family Systems (IFS) can be adapted for the real conditions of motherhood. Jessica is the creator of the Mom Parts Method and author of When Good Moms Feel Bad: An Empowering Guide for Transforming Guilt, Anxiety and Anger into Compassion, Confidence and Connectedness (Balance, 2026). Drawing on more than fifteen years of clinical work in maternal mental health, Jessica translates IFS into accessible, motherhood-native language. The Mom Parts Method gives mothers simple tools to identify their parts, access their Inner Mom, and approach guilt, grief, rage, and overwhelm with curiosity instead of correction. This is a useful conversation for therapists working with mothers, perinatal mental health clinicians, and anyone interested in more affirming, non-pathologizing approaches to maternal mental health. In this episode, we discuss: What therapists often get wrong when working with mothers How the Mom Parts Method translates IFS into motherhood-native language The role of patriarchy, under-resourcing, and matrescence in maternal distress Why "bad mom" parts (rage, panic, perfectionism, the inner critic) are protectors The five-step Mom Parts Method, from triggering event to remedy How therapists' own parts show up in this work Why healing in maternal mental health is wholeness, not elimination Full show notes and transcript: mtsgpodcast.com Timestamps: 03:30 - What therapists get wrong with mothers 04:47 - Shame and the "bad mom" taboo 10:45 - Patriarchy, matrescence, and the systemic context 17:42 - The five-step Mom Parts Method 29:56 - Healing is wholeness, not elimination 33:48 - When to bring parts work into session 35:27 - When Good Moms Feel Bad and Mothercentered training Guest Bio: Jessica Tomich Sorci, LMFT is a Level 3 Certified IFS Therapist, IFSI Approved Clinical Consultant, and a Certified Perinatal Mental Health therapist (PMH-C) with advanced training in IFIO. She is the creator of the Mom Parts Method and author of When Good Moms Feel Bad (Balance, 2026). She trains clinicians through her Mothercentered certification program. Learn more at www.momparts.com. Join the Modern Therapist Community Podcast: mtsgpodcast.com Patreon: patreon.com/c/mtsgpodcast Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist's Survival Guide Creative Credits Voice Over by DW McCann: https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano: https://groomsymusic.com/
• Why Fixing Teens Doesn’t Work and What Actually Helps Youth Mental Health: An Interview with Dr. Will Dobud 04.05.2026 47min

  Why Fixing Teens Doesn’t Work and What Actually Helps Youth Mental Health: An Interview with Dr. Will Dobud Curt and Katie talk with Dr. Will Dobud about what therapists often get wrong when working with teens, why adolescent behavior is so often overpathologized, and how connection, play, risk, and mastery can better support youth mental health. They also explore the so-called youth mental health crisis, the impact of overmanagement and disconnection, and what therapists can do to better engage young people in meaningful, developmentally appropriate ways. About Our GuestDr. Will Dobud is a social worker, researcher, and educator who has worked with adolescents and families in the United States, Australia, and Norway. He is a Senior Lecturer in Social Work at Charles Sturt University and an award-winning researcher focused on improving therapy outcomes for teenagers and promoting safe, ethical practices. His work has also examined America’s Troubled Teen Industry, especially wilderness therapy. Key Takeaways Teens are often overpathologized when they may be showing developmentally normal behavior. Youth therapy should focus on engagement, interaction, play, and doing things together, not just sitting and talking. Social disconnection, fewer third spaces, and less unstructured play may be contributing to youth distress. Young people will seek connection wherever they can find it, including online and through AI relationships. Therapists can help teens build resilience by supporting autonomy, mastery, and meaningful participation. Find the full show notes and transcript at mtsgpodcast.com. Join the Modern Therapist Community: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/mtsgpodcast Podcast Homepage: https://mtsgpodcast.com Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/therapyreimagined Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann: https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano: https://groomsymusic.com/
• The Burden of Potential: Therapy for Gifted Adults Navigating Burnout, Identity, and 2e Considerations 27.04.2026 1h 15min

  The Burden of Potential: Therapy for Gifted Adults Navigating Burnout, Identity, and 2e Considerations Gifted adults do not usually come to therapy naming giftedness as the issue. More often, they present with burnout, anxiety, depression, underperformance, identity confusion, relationship strain, or existential distress. In this continuing education episode, Katie Vernoy and Curt Widhalm explore how gifted adults show up in therapy, how to distinguish giftedness from high achievement, and how 2e considerations can complicate assessment and treatment. Curt and Katie discuss the hidden cost of success, including masking, perfectionism, chronic overfunctioning, executive functioning workarounds, code-switching, and the pressure of living up to potential. They also look at what helps in therapy: deeper assessment, intellectual attunement, self-compassion, sustainability, accommodations, and values-aligned treatment. In this podcast episode, we discuss: common presenting concerns for gifted adults in therapy the difference between giftedness, achievement, and eminence burnout, perfectionism, and chronic overfunctioning masking, self-editing, and existential loneliness 2e considerations and hidden neurodivergence treatment strategies that go beyond basic coping skills This episode is eligible for 1 CE credit through the Modern Therapist Learning Community. To receive CE credit, listen to the episode, register for your free profile at moderntherapistcommunity.com, purchase the course, pass the post-test, and complete the evaluation. Full show notes, transcript, and episode resources will be available at mtsgpodcast.com. Join the Modern Therapist Community: Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/mtsgpodcast Podcast Homepage: https://www.mtsgpodcast.com Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann: https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano: https://groomsymusic.com/
• How Therapists Can Help Clients With IBS, Chronic Nausea, and Gut-Brain Disorders: An Interview with Dr. Ali Navidi 23.04.2026 40min

  How Therapists Can Help Clients With IBS, Chronic Nausea, and Gut-Brain Disorders: An Interview with Dr. Ali Navidi, PsyD Curt and Katie talk with Dr. Ali Navidi, PsyD about disorders of gut-brain interaction, including IBS, chronic nausea, and other GI conditions that therapists may see more often than they realize. They explore how the gut-brain axis works, which clients may be more likely to struggle with these concerns, how therapists can stay within scope, and why specialized behavioral health treatment can directly improve symptoms rather than only helping clients cope with them. About Our GuestDr. Ali Navidi, PsyD is a licensed clinical psychologist and co-founder of GI Psychology, a national telehealth practice specializing in the treatment of gastrointestinal (GI) disorders and chronic pain. In addition to providing patient care, Dr. Navidi oversees clinical training and outreach initiatives at the practice. He has presented on GI disorders and chronic pain to organizations across the country, including the American College of Gastroenterology, UNC School of Medicine, George Mason University, Georgetown University (Grand Rounds), INOVA, as well as through podcasts, television appearances, and multiple State Academies of Nutrition and Dietetics. Key Takeaways Therapists are in a strong position to notice GI issues, especially in clients with anxiety, trauma histories, autism, or eating disorders. Disorders of gut-brain interaction are not just “in someone’s head.” The pain and symptoms are real, even when there is no visible structural problem. Therapists should encourage appropriate medical evaluation and collaborate with gastroenterologists rather than trying to diagnose IBS or other GI disorders on their own. Specialized CBT and clinical hypnosis can directly treat gut-brain disorders, not just the anxiety that surrounds them. Dr. Navidi, PsyD describes a treatment model focused on hypervigilance, catastrophizing, and visceral hypersensitivity. When diet questions come up, therapists should be cautious and refer to GI-focused dietitians when appropriate. Therapists should also be careful about overconfident claims related to the microbiome, SIBO, and other popular gut-health conversations. For full show notes and the transcript for this episode, visit mtsgpodcast.com. Join the Modern Therapist Community Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/mtsgpodcast Podcast Homepage: mtsgpodcast.com Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits Voice Over by DW McCann: https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano: https://groomsymusic.com/
• What Therapists Need to Know About Neurodivergent Clients and Families: An Interview with David Smith, LCSW 20.04.2026 50min

  What Therapists Need to Know About Neurodivergent Clients and Families: An Interview with David Smith, LCSW Curt and Katie talk with David Smith about neurodiversity-affirming therapy, autism, ADHD, PDA, family systems, and burnout for neurodivergent therapists. David shares both clinical expertise and lived experience as an autistic therapist, offering practical guidance for working more effectively with neurodivergent clients and the families around them. About Our Guest: K. David Smith, LCSW K. David Smith, LCSW, is an autistic therapist who provides neurodiversity-affirming, trauma-informed therapy online in 5 states (Oregon, California, Idaho, Vermont, and Florida). He also provides clinical supervision for therapists working toward LCSW or LPC licensure in Oregon, particularly those who are neurodivergent themselves or who are passionate about supporting neurodivergent clients. In addition, he provides consultation, training, and workshops for medical practices and professionals, other therapists, employers, and school districts about ways to become more neurodiversity-affirming and supportive of neurodivergent people. Key Takeaways - Therapists often miss neurodivergence entirely and may treat anxiety, depression, or “thought errors” without considering whether a client is struggling in environments that were not built for their nervous system. - Neurotypical therapists can work well with neurodivergent clients when they lead with curiosity, attunement, flexibility, and a willingness to adapt how therapy is structured. - PDA can look like defiance, but David reframes it as an anxiety- and threat-based response to demands. Traditional rewards and consequences may backfire. - Neurodivergence in families is often intergenerational, with different neurotypes shaping attachment, communication, expectations, and family roles. - Neurodivergent therapists need more than generic self-care. Sustainable practice may require reducing demands, grounding, rest, and nervous-system-informed regulation. Full show notes and transcript will be available at mtsgpodcast.com. Join the Modern Therapist Community: Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/mtsgpodcast Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/
• How Clients Experience Therapy: From First Inquiry to the Waiting Room: An Interview with Michael Ashford 16.04.2026 44min

  How Clients Experience Therapy: From First Inquiry to the Waiting Room: An Interview with Michael Ashford Curt and Katie talk with Michael Ashford about how clients experience therapy before the clinical work even begins. They explore what therapists can learn from customer service, communication, and marketing to create a smoother, more supportive experience from first inquiry through intake, onboarding, waiting room logistics, and practice policies. This conversation looks at how clarity, thoughtful systems, and strong boundaries can improve client experience while also supporting therapists. About the Guest Michael Ashford is the Senior Director of Marketing at Sign In Solutions and has spent the past decade building and leading marketing teams at companies large and small. Michael is a former award-winning journalist, a two-time TEDx speaker, and holds a Master’s degree in Communication from Kansas State University. Michael’s approach to marketing focuses on scaling companies through the power of effective communication, storytelling, and humanizing brands. Key Takeaways Client experience starts before the first session Clear expectations reduce client stress and confusion Website messaging, intake, and onboarding should feel seamless Waiting room and check-in systems matter more than many therapists realize Good customer service includes strong boundaries around time, fees, and cancellations Full show notes and transcript: mtsgpodcast.com Join the Modern Therapist Community: Podcast Homepage: https://mtsgpodcast.com/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann: https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano: https://groomsymusic.com/
• Adapting EMDR for Neurodivergent Clients: Parts Work, Attunement, and Affirming Trauma Therapy, An Interview with Cathy Hanville and Christine MacInnis 13.04.2026 42min

  Adapting EMDR for Neurodivergent Clients: Parts Work, Attunement, and Affirming Trauma Therapy, An Interview with Cathy Hanville and Christine MacInnis Curt and Katie talk with Cathy Hanville and Christine MacInnis about how to adapt EMDR for autistic and ADHD clients with more flexibility, safety, and affirming care. They explore why standard protocols can miss important client needs, how parts work can support trauma treatment, and what therapists should consider when working with neurodivergent clients whose trauma is tied to masking, chronic correction, social rejection, and being misunderstood. In this episode, we talk about: Why EMDR often needs adaptation across all eight phases How parts work can support neurodivergent clients in trauma treatment The impact of masking, correction, and misunderstanding as trauma Sensory, communication, and processing differences therapists need to consider Moving away from compliance-based care toward attunement and collaboration About the guests Christine MacInnis, MSed, MS, LMFT owns Transcends Family Therapy in Torrance, California, specializing in neurodiversity and LGBTQIA+ affirming, trauma-informed care. She is additionally licensed in Arizona and Ohio, is an EMDRIA-approved consultant, and provides advanced training on neurodiversity-affirming EMDR, ADHD, and autism. Learn more at www.transcendstherapy.com. Cathy Hanville, LCSW (They/She) is a licensed clinical social worker in Pennsylvania and California, an EMDRIA-approved consultant, and a continuing education provider. They help therapists identify blind spots so they can provide gender- and neurodiversity-affirming care. Learn more at www.cathyhanville.com. Cathy and Christine are under contract with Norton Publishing to write Neurodivergent Paths to Healing: Affirming EMDR and Parts Work for Autistic and ADHD Clients, expected in early 2027. Key takeaways Therapists often need to adapt EMDR for every client, not just neurodivergent clients Neurodivergent-affirming EMDR requires flexibility, collaboration, and sensory awareness Parts work can help therapists better understand protection, shame, and responses often mislabeled as resistance Many neurodivergent clients carry trauma tied to masking, chronic correction, and social rejection Full show notes and transcript: https://mtsgpodcast.com Join our community Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/mtsgpodcast Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/therapyreimagined Podcast Homepage: https://mtsgpodcast.com Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits Voice Over by DW McCann: https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano: https://groomsymusic.com/
• When Clients Reject Your Diagnosis: How to Handle Pushback Without Losing the Therapeutic Alliance 06.04.2026 42min

  When Clients Reject Your Diagnosis: How to Handle Pushback Without Losing the Therapeutic Alliance What do you do when your client doesn’t agree with your diagnosis? Whether it’s a parent resisting an autism or ADHD diagnosis, a client attached to a different label, or someone overwhelmed by what a diagnosis means for their identity, these conversations can feel high-stakes. In this episode, Curt and Katie explore why clients push back on diagnoses and how to navigate these conversations without damaging the therapeutic relationship. They break down the role of stigma, identity, and real-world consequences, and offer practical strategies for staying collaborative while still doing effective clinical work. Key Takeaways: Why clients resist diagnoses (stigma, identity, and real-world impact) How to respond without arguing or damaging the alliance When disagreement means your assessment isn’t finished How to focus on function and treatment instead of labels Navigating documentation, insurance, and cultural considerations Get the full show notes and resources at mtsgpodcast.com. Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/
• The Lasting Harm of Conversion Therapy: An Interview with Samuel Nieves 01.04.2026 39min

  The Lasting Harm of Conversion Therapy: An Interview with Samuel Nieves This interview was recorded in November 2025 in anticipation of the Supreme Court ruling in Chiles v. Salazar and released afterward. Rather than focusing on the legal details of the decision, Curt and Katie talk with Samuel Nieves about the harms of conversion therapy, how change efforts can be disguised as therapy, and what clinicians need to understand when working with survivors. Sam shares from his lived experience as a survivor and explains why the deepest harms often involve identity damage, loss of self-trust, and disconnection from one’s own lived experience. About our guest:Sam Nieves has a Bachelor’s in Psychology. In 2019, he entered grad school to become a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, but left the field after 6 months of clinical experience. Since 2020, Sam has used his personal, clinical, and educational background to support survivors of conversion therapy. He is now a board member of the non-profit organization Conversion Therapy Survivor Network. Sam uses the online name “CantPrayMeAway” to share his own experiences as a client of conversion therapy and advocates for the end of all conversion practices worldwide. Key takeaways: Conversion therapy is broader than many therapists realize and can show up in subtle, disguised forms SOGIECE (sexual orientation and gender identity or expression change efforts) offers a clearer framework for recognizing sexual orientation and gender identity or expression change efforts The core harm of conversion therapy is often identity damage and loss of self-trust Even well-intentioned therapeutic tools can become retraumatizing when they are used in the service of changing identity Survivors may need therapists to move slowly, stay client-centered, and understand that therapy itself may have been part of the harm Full show notes and transcript: mtsgpodcast.com Join the Modern Therapist Community: Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann: https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano: https://groomsymusic.com/
• The Private Practice Pivot: How Therapists Are Adapting to Platforms, Agency Work, and the Changing Therapy Economy 30.03.2026 36min

  The Private Practice Pivot: How Therapists Are Adapting to Platforms, Agency Work, and the Changing Therapy Economy Are therapists leaving private practice - or simply adapting to a changing mental health economy? Curt Widhalm, LMFT, and Katie Vernoy, LMFT discuss a growing shift across the profession as therapists pivot between private practice, agency jobs, group practices, and therapy platforms. As referral patterns change, venture-backed platforms grow, and the economics of therapy evolve, many clinicians are reconsidering how they structure their careers. Curt and Katie explore why therapists are pivoting their practices, how platforms like Headway, Alma, and Rula are shaping the field, and what therapists can do to build sustainable careers in a rapidly changing environment. Key Takeaways • Why many therapists are pivoting their private practices • How therapy platforms and venture capital are reshaping the profession • The role of agency work, group practices, and hybrid careers • Why isolation can undermine sustainability in solo practice • How therapists can design careers that prioritize stability Full show notes and resources: mtsgpodcast.com Join the Modern Therapist Community Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/mtsgpodcast Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits Voice Over by DW McCannhttps://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Manganohttps://groomsymusic.com/
• Is Independent Private Practice Sustainable? Data on Caseloads, Insurance & Income – An Interview with Lindsay Oberleitner, PhD 23.03.2026 49min

  Is Independent Private Practice Sustainable? Data on Caseloads, Insurance & Income Is independent private practice still financially sustainable? Curt and Katie sit down with Lindsay Oberleitner, PhD, Director of Clinical Strategy at SimplePractice, to examine national data on caseload trends, insurance participation, income realities, and therapist burnout. Drawing from Lindsay's research at SimplePractice, they explore whether independent private practice is truly viable long term - and what clinicians need to understand to remain financially and professionally sustainable. In this episode, we discuss: • Why some clinicians are seeing declining caseloads despite high demand for mental health care • Typical full-time caseload ranges in independent private practice • How insurance participation is shifting year over year • The financial impact of reimbursement rates and overhead costs • Why burnout is both a personal and systemic issue • The significant role independent private practice plays in delivering outpatient behavioral health care across the United States Independent private practice represents an estimated 15–20% of outpatient behavioral health services. This episode helps therapists think strategically about income, sustainability, visibility, and long-term viability in today’s healthcare landscape. For full show notes and resources, visit mtsgpodcast.com. Join the Modern Therapist Community: • Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/mtsgpodcast • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/therapyreimagined • Podcast Homepage: https://therapyreimagined.com/modern-therapists-survival-guide-podcast-episodes/ Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCannhttps://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Manganohttps://groomsymusic.com/